Still under 30 years of age, Hristo Vitchev has lived each third of his life on a different continent. After one decade speaking Spanish in Caracas, Venezuela, followed by another speaking English in the San Francisco Bay Area, Sofia-born Hristo claims to speak only grade-school Bulgarian these days.

Like so many of his generation, Hristo became interested in the guitar at around the age of 12 as a means to becoming a rock start. But unlike so many of his generation, he took the instrument seriously, later pursuing formal studies at the Roland Music Academy in Caracas, and still later briefly at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts. It was during his time at San Jose State University that he met Frank Sumares, and thence other prominent locally resident musicians such as John Shifflet, Wayne Wallace and fellow-guitarist Rick Vandivier. Hristo soon joined their ranks, and from his home base in San Jose he now tours the US, Europe and Japan.

He's written over 200 original compositions, numerous articles on jazz improvisation, and the book
"Between the Voicings: A New Approach to Chord-Building for Guitarists".

In early 2009 he released his first recording as a leader, "Song for Messambria".